Haymitch Abernathy (Hunger Games) (drunkstrategy) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2014-07-29 10:50:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, effie trinket, haymitch abernathy |
Who: Effie and Haymitch
Where: Effie’s Husband’s Office
When Early July
What Random Encounter
Status: Complete
Rating: Low/None
Effie stepped into her husband’s office to meet the old man for lunch. She’d been shopping all morning, and was exhausted from carrying around bags and things. There were some ladies that she’d met for coffee, and things sort of escalated. She’d been wanting a new summer wardrobe for her time in California, so the shopping was not only fun, but necessary.
When she headed into the office, she heard Haymitch Abernathy’s voice on the other side of her husband’s office door. It was unmistakable. She leaned against the wall, waiting for them to finish their business meeting.
Haymitch didn’t often get directly involved with each detail of a clients requirements but when it came to political campaigns he rather enjoyed it. And he was rather good at it. And this particular campaign provided him with some rather meaty substance. After all getting someone elected who was out of touch and who had been retired was no easy feat.
Agreeing to work on some marketing material to be approved he stood and moved to the door, upon opening it he noticed Effie. “Lunch date is it?” he asked with a slight smile standing back to allow her to enter the room before he left.
“Astute observation, Mister Abernathy,” Effie said, giving him a little grin as she walked past him into her husband’s office. “Or should I say… astute assumption? Hello, honeybun.” She leaned over to give the old man a kiss on his wrinkled cheek, then perched on the edge of the desk. “Am I interrupting?”
“No no, though I have bad news, my dear,” the old man wheezed. “I’m afraid I’ll have to miss our lunch date. Something’s come up in India, and I have to take a conference call. Can’t be avoided.”
“What? Isn’t it late in India? They’re probably ten hours ahead of us! Are you sure you can’t reschedule?” Effie asked, frowning at him.
“I’ll tell you what. Haymitch can take you,” the old man said, gesturing toward Haymitch. “Anywhere you like, open a tab. Lunch and drinks on me. All right?”
Haymitch rather liked Effie, even if she was ridiculous sometimes, she was a sweet girl really. He felt a little bad for her being married to the ex-politician but she’d made her choice and it had nothing to do with him. He opened his mouth to protest but really he had no valid excuse. “Bit of a bad deal for your wife getting stuck with me” he said before looking at Effie, “But if you’re willing to put up with my company I’ll take you”
“I suppose I can put up with the company.” Effie said after crinkling her nose up. Sort of playfully. There wasn’t anything wrong with Haymitch. There wasn’t anything she liked about her husband more, either. She just didn’t like when things went off plan. Effie leaned over to tap a quick kiss against the old man’s cheek, then turned to Haymitch with a sigh. “I guess it’s just you and me, then.” She stepped over, looped her arm through his, and motioned for him to lead the way.
Haymitch huffed a laugh at her response and nodded while waiting for her to say goodbye to her husband. “Don’t worry, I’ll try not to embarrass you”
“I’m hard to embarrass.” Effie was slightly different in this world than she was in the dreams. Perhaps just a little more easy going. She let him lead the way out of the office building. “Where are we going for lunch?”
Haymitch was slightly more behaved and sociable in this world so it seemed they were both rather lucky. “I know this nice little Italian place if you feel like it? I’m open to suggestions though” he told her as they walked.
“Italian is fine.” Effie said, nodding once as they walked along the street. “Is it close?” Either they could walk, drive, or get a cab, depending. “These shoes aren’t exactly fit for long treks across town.” (They were fairly ridiculous shoes.)
Haymitch glanced down at her shoes and raised an eyebrow, “Why do you women do that?” he said with a shake of his head, “I’ll drive us” he added guiding her to his car which wasn’t too far away. He had a nice car, not too flashy but nice enough that you could tell he knew cars.
Effie raised an eyebrow. “Do what? Wear fantastic shoes? Because we like showing off our feet.” She said, then released his elbow so she could walk around to the opposite side of the car. “...Don’t crash.”
“Is that what they are? And here I thought torture devices were a much better description of them” he told her with a smirk. “Sweetheart I have never had an accident in my life and I certainly don’t plan to start now”
“It hurts to be beautiful.” Even if she was gushing blood from her toes, she’d continue to wear the ridiculous things. Effie was like that. “Good. Let’s not break that perfect record.” She slipped into the car and pulled on her seatbelt. “Thank you for taking me out today. It’ll be nice to have lunch with someone who can still form coherent sentences.” She said it with a wink to show she was kidding, but there was a lot of truth behind that slightly sarcastic sentence.
Haymitch didn’t understand it but then he’d never claimed to be able to understand women. “You’re welcome. Makes a change for me too you know” he told her with a wry smile as he glanced at her before pulling away from the curb to get them to the restaurant.
“Oh yeah?” Effie asked, giving him a smirk. She settled into the car and folded one leg over the other. It was hot, and she was enjoying showing off her long legs under fairly short shorts. “You often have stuffy meal partners, do you?”
At the end of the day Haymitch was only human and Effie was an extremely attractive woman so if his gaze lingered on her legs longer than strictly decent he was fairly sure nobody could blame him. “I usually have no meal partners” he told her dragging his gaze back to the road.
“Now, I can hardly believe that’s true,” Effie said, raising an eyebrow. She’d caught him staring down at her legs, and it made her feel proud. Her ego could always use a little boost. She brushed some hair out of her face and behind her ear. “Why is that? I’m sure they’re all lining up at your door. You must have to drive them away with a stick.”
Haymitch laughed at that, “Believe it sweetheart” he said before glancing over at her to see if she was winding him up. “I’m flattered but you’ll find some aspects of my personality are what some would consider too pessimistic or grumpy” he informed her with a wry smile.
“Oh really?” Effie asked, breaking into a bit of a smirk. “Well, that’s funny. I don’t find you pessimistic or grumpy at all. At least, not in this moment, anyway.” She gave a playful gasp and turned to him. “Why Haymitch, are you on your best behavior for little ole me?”
“Well you need to spend more time with me then” he teased her lightly shooting her a smirk, “I wouldn’t say best behaviour” he said with a slight hesitancy in his voice.
“I think that can be arranged.” There may have been a hint of flirtation in her voice. “No? You’re not acting your best?”
“Careful now, I’ll hold you to that” he found himself replying before he could stop himself. Honestly one look at the womans legs and he was losing his head. “Not quite my best” he winked at her.
Effie laughed. “Oh, Haymitch. You charmer. Now, take me somewhere special for lunch.” She said, enjoying his eyes along her legs.